Conductor for electric tugs.



G. MEYER.

OONDUOTOB FOB ELECTRIC TUGS.

nrmonlox rum un. a, m2.

1,034,022. Patented July 3o, 1912.

:MAMMA rLANoulArn :0.,VAINIMHWL uc.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-Toa?.

GEORG MEYER, OF CHARLOTTENBUBG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEIENS-SCHUCKEYRT WERKE, G. M. B. H., 0F BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION 0F GERMANY.

' connuc'ror. ron ELECTRIC Tues.

Medication of Letten Patent.

Application med laren 2, 191i. semi No. ss1,14s.

To all Lc/lom it vmay concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG MEYER, afcitizen of the Empire of Germany, and residing at Charlottenburg, near Berlin, Germany. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in flnductors for Electric 'l`ugs,vof which the tollowing is a specification.

M v invention relates to return conductors for electric tugs driven with the 'aid of overhead lines.

In general.l when electric tugs are driven with the aid of overhead lines the current. is

returned to the power house by special return wires which are suspended togetherY with 1feeders on a supporting rope. Now according to mylinvention for returning the current I employa metallic band or rope, alone or togetlien'with the customary return wires: the tug pulls itself by means of friction rollers or in other manner along this band, or rope which thus serves instead ot a chain or rope as the draft member.

One illustrative embodiment of my invention is represented by way of example in the accompanyingr drawing. wherein lfigure l is a vertical longitudinal section and Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section showing a tug to which the invention is applied.

Referring to the drawing, a designates the overhead line. a current collector which is connected by the conductor o with one pole ol the motor r. The other pole ot' the motor is connected by the conductor e to the axle f which is driven by the motor `through the medium otl bevel gears f1, f2 and drives through the medlum of any sultable gearing y, the two friction rollers f/ between which is located the draft member l1, e. y. a rope..band or the like. The motor and the i'riction rollers are carried by the boat lihen the electric circuit is closed current Hows from th:x overhead line ofby way ot' tln current collector to the motor r. thc-u through the conductor c to the axle f, through the friction rollers g into the rope :4 and back through this to the power station.

The friction rollers pull the boat forward Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing The section of the metal rope or band will in general sutlice for taking up the return current; if desired, the rope .or band may be made of a specially good conducting material, e. g. silicon-bronze, which in addition has the advantage of great tensile strength. The rope or band may be located either above or in the-water, and in the llatter event the water will aid in returning the current. The intimate contact between a flat metal band and the rollers of the hauling device on the one hand, and the Wasliin of the band by the water on the other han render the band particularly suitable for conducting away the electric current. In case it is not desirable to load the metallic band with the entire return current, a part thereof can be transmitted in well-known manner by return wires; theadvantage is then obtained that return wires of materially smaller diameter than those customary heretofore can be used. In this case not only is material for the return conductor saved, but the overhead supporting construction is loaded less which, in consequence, can also be made lighter.

The combination with an overhead trolley line, of a boat, an electric motor on the boat having one pole electrically connected with said trolley line, a submerged draft member capable of conducting the return current from said motor, a pair of submerged metallic friction rolls journaled in the bottom of saidboat and depending therefrom in operative engagement with said conducting' draft member, and means for transmitting power from said motor to said rolls.l said means being electrically connected to the other pole of said motor and adapted to convcy the return current to said draft member through said rolls.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of t wo witnesses.

GEORG MEYER.

the Commissioner of Patent;

Washington, D. C."

Patented Julyiaosrmzi; 

